Former mayoress of Sefton Catie Walker denies DLA fraud

EX-MAYORESS of Sefton, Catie Walker, has told a court that the fraud allegations against her are untrue.

She is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court along with her husband, John Walker, where they both deny two charges of conspiring to dishonestly obtain Disability Living Allowance and income support.

It is alleged that John Walker, 57, falsely claimed DLA on the basis he could only walk a few yards unaided, had dizzy spells and needed round-the-clock care, which his wife provided. He also claimed that he had trouble communicating verbally.

Catie Walker, 48, told the jury that allegations that she was paid for escorting an autistic boy to a special school in Newton-le-WIllows were untrue.

She agreed to go in the taxi with the boy along with her daughter, who was first dropped off at Streatham House, a public school in Crosby, but said she did it as a favour to his parents and was not paid. Asked by her barrister, Gill Evans, about an apparent reference to her being paid by the taxi driver £70 a week for escorting the boy she said this referred to the amount it would cost if the taxi ride was costed out.

It is also claimed that the taxi firm, SRC, paid her for distributing their business cards. She said that a sum was paid for 5,000 cards which were distributed along with Labour leaflets but the money was given to the local party treasurer.

He has denied this.

She said another 5,000 cards were delivered to their rented home in Farmer Place, Bootle, but these were not distributed and no money was handed over. Further questioned Catie said that she had filled in the Department of Work and Pensions claim forms because of her husband's poor handwriting and his chronic fatigue syndrome but he signed them.

"Did you write down something you did not believe to be true?" asked Miss Evans. "No, never," she replied.

She said her husband had taken advice before filling in the forms and she believed everything they had written down was correct.